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Comments
He Is Lord
For what it's worth, here is the copyright registration associated with Frey:
https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=1&ti=1,1&Search%5FArg=%2Bmarvin%20%2BFrey%20%2Bhe%20%2Blord&Search%5FCode=FT%2A&CNT=25&PID=p5I3BF-AesJyVRPdfowFZq_W&SEQ=20240815165326&SID=1
He Is Lord
Steve Vest sent us his statement which seemed credible. It is not clear from the copyright record what relationship Marvin Frey has to the songs in this work; editor? arranger? composer? author?, adapter?
He Is Lord
The title of the work is <cite>I saw my Savior exalted and fifteen other songs by Marvin V. Frey.</cite> I don't see what is so unclear about his stated relationship to the songs. According to Steve Vest, he was actively performing the song prior to 1977, which would give him the earlier claim, but as a matter of responsible reporting, I would argue it is not sufficient to post an undated, unverified claim as though it were undisputed. I have been scouring Newspapers.com for any kind of evidence of Steve Vest being a traveling singer, and so far there is nothing.
Bottom line, I think the statement from Vest needs to say “Hymnary staff, correspondence with Steve Vest, [DATE of STATEMENT],” and for now, there has to be an acknowledgement of the competing claim by Marvin Frey. Will you please get in touch with Steve Vest and have him provide SOMETHING by way of proof of his story?
He Is Lord
The song appears to have been in widespread use several years prior to 1977, and familiar enough to be considered “Traditional” by at least 1973.
An issue of The Mennonite dated December 18, 1973 contains the full lyrics of the chorus. It is described as “One of the favorite choruses sung in [Charismatic] meetings," no indication of any author of lyrics or music.
https://archive.org/details/mennonite197388unse/page/834/mode/2up?q=%22risen+from+the+dead+and+he+is+lord%22
The Elim Evangelical (June 16, 1973): “'HE is risen from the dead and He is Lord’ was sung many times as the joy and triumph of Calvary and the resurrection filled our hearts during our Easter Convention.”
https://archive.org/details/elimevangel054/page/n471/mode/2up?q=%22he+is+risen+from+the+dead+and+he+is+lord%22
The earliest recording I've found so far is an arrangement of “He Is Lord” appearing in a medley on Dallas Holm's 1974 album Peace, Joy and Love, where it is credited “Traditional" on the record sleeve.
https://archive.org/details/lp_peace-joy-and-love_dallas-holm/disc1/02.03.+There+Is+A+Light.mp3
As with many choruses from the Charismatic Movement era, the song seems to have entered quickly into a form of oral tradition and been treated as a quasi-folk song. Mr. Vest's claim of 1969 would fit this time frame, but without more solid documentation “attributed to” might be a more appropriate credit. I would be interested to know if anyone can find earlier citations!
Personal testimony
By 1969 I'm quite sure we were singing it in the youth group at Rose Hill Presbyterian (Kirkland, WA). I have no recollection of whether we had it in any written let alone notated form, or if we just learned it orally. I'm only referring to the part that is the refrain if there are verses added. We didn't have any added verses. And I wouldn't say we were “Charismatics”; we didn't speak in tongues or anything like that. We were just junior high and high school kids meeting at a member's house to water ski and snack and pray and sing. That's also where and when I first learned “Amazing Grace”, and the tune I learned it to was HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN; I'm not sure when I first learned NEW BRITAIN, but it was definitely post-1970.